It/Tech Hiring: How to Prepare for an Interview

Demand for IT talent is on the rise. According to the recent CompTIA research report, tech employment in the U.S. accounts for 12.1 million individuals—and that number has grown by 307,000 in the past year. 2019 saw 4.6 million job openings and the competition for talent has never been so fierce. At the same time, a majority of college students are pursuing STEM careers.

So, IT/tech work might be just right for you. Once you acquire the right mix of qualifications for the job you’re seeking, you must prove your knowledge and expertise through interviews potential new employers. Some interviews might feel more casual; others might text your expert technical knowledge—succeeding at both types is crucial in order to get hired.

In this article, we will go over tips to ace your IT interview:

1. Start with your resume

The interview sessions are a direct result of your initial job application and resume/CV, so any interview will build on the information you’ve shared in your initial job applications. Any information partly left out on the resume will likely be a part of the interview discussion. This might include examples of work you’ve done previously, as well as any timeline gaps. Do expect a relevant discussion during the interview. Be honest and transparent during the job application phase. You don’t have to detail every task you’ve performed. A good rule of thumb is to be prepared to discuss 1-3 highlights per job you’ve held.

In this context, the preparation for an interview already starts from your job application. This is where you introduce your relevance to the potential employer and during the interview session, you present how your experience makes you the best fit for the job.

2. Present your soft skills

Treat the IT job interview as a meeting with your (potential) colleagues. Communication and collaboration are critical elements of any IT-related role. Interviewers want to know you can:

• Make yourself understood
• Present your thoughts effectively
• Conduct an appropriate interactive discussion on complex tech subjects

When you’re preparing for an IT interview, focus on learning how to keep your sentences clear, concise, and complete.

These tips also extend to coding interviews and technical discussions that are intended to test your technical prowess on the subject more than your behavioral profile. However, the technical background is only useful once job candidates indicate they fit well into the company culture, collaborate with colleagues, and understand each other.